Page:History of the Thirty Years' War - Gindely - Volume 1.djvu/43

 the imperial ban except in conformity to the established forms and processes; to make conquests only for the Empire, and reside chiefly within it. These and other obligations were assumed in his coronation oath, to which, however, historians generally agree that he paid no very strict regard. The oaths of succeeding Emperors were of similar import. Except in the exercise of some prerogatives, which precedent had settled, the Emperors were simply the executives of the Diet’s will. It was by no means uniform that they had armies at their command; indeed this was exceptional. In case of Charles V., the army was fixed at twenty thousand foot and four thousand horse, of which the States furnished their respective contingents, or paid monthly four florins ($1,60) for each man of the infantry, and twelve florins ($4.80) for each horseman. They did not, however, always do either; the princes might keep their troops at home, and then appear at their head when required, in which event the Prince of Liechtenstein at the head of his dozen or so of men, independent prince though he were, would make a sorry appearance by the side of the electoral Dukes of Bavaria and Saxony, and the Archbishops of Mentz, Cologne, and Treves, with their thousands.

IV. The Imperial Diet was made up of the three Estates.

1. The members of the electoral college, which we give in the order of their precedence as fixed by the Golden Bull: The Archbishops of Mentz, Cologne, and Treves; then the King of Bohemia, the Count Palatine, the Duke of Saxony, and the Margrave of Brandenburg.

2. The princes—which term must be understood to